Road construction machine



Jan. 29, 1957 J. w. JOHNSON ROAD CONSTRUCTION MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Sept. 25, 19.50

INVENTOR JAMES W. JOHNSON @W amed/xv 55% W\ m 9% QW v A w l Jan. 29,1957 J. w. JOHNSON ROAD CONSTRUCTION MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1950 eSheets-Sheet 2' INVENTOR JAMES JOHNSON 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 25,1950 INVENTOR ESWJOHNSON Q2? JAM J. W. JOHNSON ROAD CONSTRUCTION MACHINEJan. 29, 1957 Filed Sept. 25, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. JAMES W.JOHNSON Jan. 29, 1957 J. w. J/GHNSON ROAD CONSTRUCTION MACHINE 6Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 25, 1950 w v. f g

m a w a J? INVENTOR: JAMES W. JOHNSON W, m w

J. W. JOHNSON ROAD CONSTRUCTION MACHINE Jan. 29, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 6Filed Sept. 25, 1950 INVENTOR JAMES W. JOHNSON )v m u asw4%m 4 a jyll.

United States Patent ROAD CONSTRUCTION MACHINE James W. Johnson, Ames,Iowa, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Blaw-Knox Company, Pittsburgh,Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application September 25, 1950, SerialNo. 186,609

8 Claims. (Cl. 94-46) This invention relates to a road constructionmachine assembly and system to lay a pavement of plastic constructionmaterial on a surface or subgrade in a single operation Without the useof construction forms.

in the construction of roads or air strips made of concrete or the like,it is usual to first prepare the subgrade with care. Then, sideconstruction forms are fastened down in opposed relation bordering thesides of the area in which the strip is to be made. Such side forms alsoconstitute the rails for the flanged wheels of the heavy machineryconventionally used in laying such roads and strips and require widebases which must be supported on a level and compact subgrade. Thus, itis frequently common to have one construction machine riding on suchrails to spread the concrete deposited between the forms and distributeit relatively evenly from side to side between the forms. Such aspreader may be provided with tam pers and strike-offs to settle andrough finish the road material. Subsequently, one or two machines in thenature of finishing machines may be used, each having a smoothing screedor reciprocating trowel. One of these has a screed extendingtransversely across the road, while a second finishing machine may havea longitudinal screed so that the surface is trowelled in twodirections. Following the passage of the finishing machines, theconcrete is cured and then the side forms are removed and placed upahead along the line the road is to take in advance of the section onwhich the work is then proceeding.

The capital investment for road laying equipment of the foregoing natureis relatively tremendous. Moreover, sizeable gangs of men are requiredin the handling of the side forms, which must be securely staked to thesubgrade inaligned position at true gauge line and elevation. The formsmust be heavy to withstand the loads of the massive machinery which theycarry and the staking must be rigid and thorough. The stakes become bentand often cannot be driven straight due to stones in the subgrade,rendering form setting a difiicult and expensive operation. The subgradeunder the forms must be carefully prepared to a true level surface tosupport the base of the forms.

The result is that this item alone in normal road construction is majorcost. Moreover, relatively complicated mechanical road spreaders androad finishing machines with their operators are also required.

In the device of this invention, a pavement can be laid on a subgradeand finished in the course of the movement of the device over thesubgrade along the line which the road is to take without the use of theusual side construction forms. Further, the device can be handled by asingle operator. Normally, it will be used with concrete or the like inplastic form supplied to it by suitable mixers. The edges of thesubgrade do not require special treatment to provide uniform bearing forside forms, it having been discovered that the machine of this inventionprepares a level way for its own travel by lateral extrusion of materialfilling any depressions and irregularities in the subgrade and providinga true level surface for supporting the machine at correct grade.

2,779,258 Patented Jan. 29, 1957 Another object of this invention is tofacilitate the obtaining of flush surfaces of adjacent strips when twoor more strips of pavement are to be laid side-by-side. Heretofore thishas been extremely difiicult of precise attainment, in either hydraulicor bituminous concrete pavements, as the screeds of the finishingmachines had to pass over the edge of the previously laid pavementstrip. The result was the second strip was finished in the old practiceat a level at least a little higher than the first strip. The structureand system of this invention are not subject to this limitation. Infact, in laying a. first strip of pavement with the new structure ofthis invention a smooth trackway is prepared at the subgrade level,adjacent the strip of pavement and at the elevation of an exact slabthickness below the pavement surface, over which the machine of thisinvention may pass in laying a second strip in side-by-side relation,thereby insuring that the tops of the first and second strips are flush.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and from the drawings, which are illustrativeonly, in which Figure l is a view in side elevation looking at the leftside of a road construction machine assembly constructed in accordancewith this invention;

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of the assembly shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in rear elevation of the assembly shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical section substantially taken along line IV-IV ofFigure 2 with the equipment on the vehicle platform removed;

- Figure 5 is a view in plan substantially taken along line VV of Figurel;

, Figure 6 is a perspective view from the rear of the as 'sembly shownin Figure 1 with the vehicle and lifting devices removed;

Figure 7 is a view in perspective showing a portion of the vibratingassembly in the structure shown in Fig ure 6;

Figure 8 is a partial view of the laying of a strip of pavement inside-by-si-de relation to a previously laid strip;

Figure 9 is a cross section of a modified runner assembly for use forexample in the space between side-by-side strips of pavement as shown inFigure 8;

Figure 10 is a transverse view in section of a modification of thestructure shown in Figure 6 taken on a transverse plane behind the backof the hopper; and

Figure 11 is a view taken along line XI-XI of Figure 10.

Material supplying and forming assembly ,In the laying of a finishedcontinuous slab or strip 10 of plastic construction having material suchas concrete the device of this invention employs a pair of elongatedmovable supports 11. These supports in the form of channels in theembodiment shown from runners which span the strip 10. Each of theserunners 11 is upwardly curved at the front end 12 thereof in the natureof the front of a skid or sled runner. A curve plate 13 is welded to theweb 14 of the runners 11 at the curved front edge 12 thereof. The plate13 on the inside of the respective webs 14 terminates in front of thefront plate of a hopper 15 extending tranversely across and rigidlywelded or otherwise connected to the runners 11 which support it. Thebottom flange 16 of the runners 11 form a continuous supporting surfacewith the outside portion of plate 13 throughout the entire length of therunners 11 to the trailing end 17 thereof respectively. The flanges 16also constitute a. mold surface forming a level trackway of groutextruded laterally beneath them into any depressions along the subgradeor surface 10a, over which .vertical position. I "like curving inwardlyand upwardly may be substituted runners ll.

.3 I I ftherunnefs may slide. Brackets IS are respectively welded attheir upper ends to the web's 14 andat their lower ends to a block 19.Block 19 in turn is fastened to the.upper .-rside 'ofthe portion ofplate 13. in each runne-r gll'to providestiifening and support. for theinner horizontal ,portionof each plate 13.

In the embodiment shown, a side 20 which acts as a mold,isprovided-attached to the inside of each web 14. The front endottheside moId Zil commencesabout at theplane-of the front of the hopperllSand extends rearwardly for the remaining length of the runners .li. Eachside moldlil is fitted along its bottom edge to the bottomof therespective-web .14 and slopes inwardly and upwardly for a distancewhichis substantially equivalent to theheightlof thelpavernent'to'belaid. The top of the lining the sides of the pavement to be laid, allowssuch sides of pavement to set and harden in a substantially In somecases, parabolic curves or the for the straight side surfaces of theside molds 20 to achieve similar results. in some cases also, the sidemolds 20 may be an integral part of the webs of the Thus, as the runners11 are moved along on the subgrade or surface a on which a pavement isto be laid by a devicc of this invention, the horizontal portion 05 theplates 13,the lower flangeslfi of the runners and the bottom edge ofthesidemolds 2t! will move along on such subgrade or'surface. The length ofthe runners it is such, with the hopper intermediate the 'ends thereof,

that there ca'n'be no bumps in any pavement'lai'd by the device of'thisinvention since there can be no abrupt tipping of the device asittransverses hollows or high spots inth'e subgrade. This isfu'rthe'rprevented by a filling of paving material in any low spots of the subgrade extruded beneath the runners from the mass of material within.

Thehopperl'fi is provided with a front plate 22 Weldedalongdherespe'ctive vertical edges thereof to the sides 23 of hopper 15.The vertical rearward edges of the sides 23 in'turn' are welded totheside edges of the back 2d ofhopper 15 forming a generally rectangularhopper in plan. This hopper is supported at its ends on the run- "ners11 and extends transversely acrossthe space between the side molds 20.The lower edges ofthc sides 23 are also secured' to the'inner edgesof'the respective top fiangesfliofthe chann'els ll. if desired, thebottom edges of the sides 23 of hopper 15 may instead be welded to thetop innermost edge of the sides so'that no projection exists on theinside of the sides of hopper 15 in a downward direction. Structuralmembers 26 are welded to the sides, back and corners of ho'pper'lS tostrengthen it. Similarlyjchannel's27 horizontally placed are secureddirectly to'the respective topfianges of the runners it or toangles-such as angle 2.8 which in turn are secured to' topiianges 25.A*oeam 29 at the end of the runners 11 is welded to brackets 39 which inturn are secured to the runners. Those channels 27 immediately in frontand behind the hopper'ls which have their flanges upstandlug, "and thebeam 29, are weight supporting'members on which 'weights'ill; forexample, may be placed iirorder to supply sufficient pressure-to causelateral extrusionof particular concretes'or the like of specifiedstiffness under the runnersll and to further insure that the runnersremain in contact with the high points of the subgrade or surface onwhich the pavement of such concrete or the likeis to be laid. Havingaplurality of such weight supporting members along the length of thedevice. and extending transversely across it enables the operator toanemone obtain an optimum weight distribution desired whenever-tidditiorial load on the device is desired. In many cases, no Weightsmay be required depending upon the Weight of the device itself formingthe plastic construction material into the pavement to be laid.

The front 22 is Welded on the outside thereof to the rear flange of thefront-channel 27 and to a further channel 32 part way up the hopper 15.Thebottom edge 33 of front plate'22 is above the flanges '16 so as toclear the *subgrade or surface on which the pavement is to: be laidincluding any normal size stones or the like "that be encountered onsuch subgrades or surfaces. The-top edge 34 of frontplate 22 extendsupwardly only apart of the way of the full height of hopper 35. In thisway,

" the edge 34 is low enough so that a chute 35 on the rear sit mixer orthe bucket of a conventional ay continually deposit plastic construction.,'2 as concrete within the hopper 35 during the movement thereof on therunners '11. The supply of concrete in the hopper E5 is continuouslyreplenished to a level at least as high as the top mold 4.7. at the sametime that the device of this invention moves along and lays a pavernenIn the case of the use of transit mixers, each one empties its load intohopper 315, a new transit mixer takes its place until the paving jobbeing done is completed. Any splashing of plastic construction rna-:rial during the deposit thereof in hopper if; is limited by the sidesand back of the hopper. A window 36 may be installed iirthe baclti 2d toincrease the are or". the

vision of the operator of the device.

The bottom of hopper 15 is wholly open to the subgrade or surface onwhich the pavement is to be laid. Further, the rear lower part 37 ofhopper 15 is open in the sense that a downwardly and rearwardlyextending curved throat plate 38 allows plastic construction material inhopper 15 to how rearwardly as the device moves forward. In effect,throat'plate 38 is an arcuate guide, the forward upper edge of which isvertical and flush on the inside with the lower edge of back 24. Therear edge 39 of guide 33 issubstantially horizontal at the level of thetop of the side molds 20. Guide 38 has the same -width approximately ashopper l5 and the. sides 40 of guide 38 are integral or weldedinternally flush continuations of sides 23 of hopper-l5. A horizontaltop mold 41 has the forward edge thereof welded to the rear edge 39 ofguide 38. The underside of top mold 41 is flush with the underside ofguide 3%. The side edges of top mold 41 are wvelded at the level cloudto the tops of side molds 21?. Thus, the section extending rearwardlyfrom rear edge 39 of guide 38 to'rear edge 42 of top mold 41constitutes, with the side molds 20 extending downwardly therefromsubstantially to the surface on which a pavement is to be "laid, a formwhich molds the plastic construction material "deposited'in frontofthroat plate 38. The throat plate 33 and the form are also open on thebottom, as in the case 'ofhopper 15, to laterally, upwardly andcontinuously confine plastic construction material deposited in hopper'15. Thus, the runners ll, hopper l5, throat plate 39, and the formcomprise a rigid structure capable of spreading and "forming a pavement.Such pavement will correspond in "transversedirnensions to thedimensions of the interiorolf the aforesaid form, that is, it will havethe height at the sides of the side molds 20 and between such sides ofthe -underside of the plate 41. In width, it Will be the distancebetweenthe side molds 26}. This structure tends to "'be'buoye'd up onthe plastic construction material so that end of a i" paving in'material s "considerable Weight is necessary to hold it down with therunners contacting the high points of the subgrade at each side.Vibrating assembly A beam 4-3 which may be made of two channels inopposed relation extends laterally across the center of hoppeers betweenthe sides 23 towhich the-respective'ends of the bearn: l-Ilare Welded orotherwise affixed. Alplurality' of downwardly bowed longitudinallyextending leaf respective ends of a transverse shaft 46. In theembodiment shown, therefore, there are thus three such transverse shaftsindependently mounted in alignment across the width of hopper 15. Aforwardly extending lug 47 rigidly attached to each shaft 46 at each endthereof is welded to a bar 48. The bars 48 extend forwardly beneath therespective springs 44 and are pivotally connected at their forward endsto a link 49. The upper ends of the respective links 49 are pivotallyconnected to the forward ends of the respective springs 44. In addition,a plate 50 is welded to each link 49 and extends above that end of therespective spring 44. An arm 51 on each plate 50 extends at an anglethereto and across the top of the adjacent portion of the respectivespring 44. These re spective arms 51 act as snubbers to prevent unduedown- H ward vertical movement of the resilient mounting comprising thesprings 44, the bars 48 and the respective links.

Intermediate the. ends of each shaft 46 there is positioned aconventional vibrator 52 clamped in fixed position to the respectiveshafts 46 by the clamps 53. The positioning of the vibrators 52 is suchas to obtain the dynamic balance and type of agitation desired. Whilethe conventional vibrators 52 are those having a rotary unbalancedweight mechanism with a driving motor in a selfcontained and sealedcase, other electrical or mechanical types may be employed. The motor ofvibrator 52 ohtains its power through the insulated electrical conductorleads in a cable 54. Cable 54 and the joint 55 thereof with the vibrator52 are impervious to penetration by any of the plastic constructionmaterials encountered.

A plurality of rearwardly extending vibrating bars 56 are rigidlyclamped to each transverse shaft 46. These bars in their rest positionremain suspended at their rearmost ends between the plane defined by theunderside of top mold 4i. of the form and the plane defined by theunderside of the flanges 16 of the runners 11. Further, during thevibration of the bars 56 and associated mechanism suspended from beam43, none of the parts strike against any of the other parts of thestructure, nor against the subgrade or surface on which the pavement isto be laid.

The vibrating assembly which has been described will be immersed inplastic construction material in hopper 315 to the extent of the amountthereof therein. Thus, if the level of such plastic constructionmaterial approaches the top of front plate 22, the entire vibratingassembly will be covered. like from a concrete mixer, the vibratingassembly will agitate the plastic mass in such way as to assist indistributing it within the hopper from side to side thereof. It willassist in working out any excess air or any voids that may exist in theplastic construction material. Further, it will assist in fluidizing theplastic construction material and cause it to flow under appliedpressure while laterally confined by the sides of the hopper 15, throatplate 38 and form, out through the rear opening 37 in the hopper andinto the space beneath the throat plate 38 and the form comprising top41 and the sides pertaining thereto. Moreover, such plastic constructionmaterial will be extruded somewhat by such pressure under the flanges 16of the runners wherever there is clearance between portions of therunners and the subgrade to fill any hollows o-r depressions therein.

The guide 38 therefore acts during the forward movement of the rigidstructure on runners 11 as a presser plate. Presser plate 38 and theform together act as a streamline forming means with respect to plasticconstruction material deposited in front and between the sides thereof.There is sufficient weight in the rigid structure itself or in thestructure plus the additional weights that may be placed thereon tomaintain contact between the bottom of the runners 11 and the subgradeso that these In the course of receiving concrete or the 6 runnerseffectively control the height of any ribbon of plastic constructionmaterial forced under the flanges 16. It will be apparent that suchextrusion of plastic construction material to fill low spots between anyhigh points on the surface or subgrade on which the pavement is to belaid, will produce a true and continuous trackway surface adjoining theproximate bottom edge of the pavement being laid. Any such extrusion isvery limited and generally will not extend beyond the outermost sides ofthe flanges 16.

Belter assembly A belter assembly is also provided in the device of thisinvention immediately to the rear of rear edge 42 of the former. Thisbelter assembly comprises a flexible belt 57 stretched between tworearwardly extending angles 58. The ends of the belt which may be madeof rubberized canvas are turned upwardly over the upstanding flange ofeach angle and downwardly. A fastening bar 59 is bolted to therespective upstanding angle flanges of the angles 58 with the boltspassing through the respective ends of the belt 57 to removably fastenit in place.

The angles 58 are welded at their forward ends to a rigid crossbar 60.The forward edge of the belt 57 is turned up between the forward end. ofthe horizontal flange of the respective angles 58 and the rear verticalface of bar 60. A clamp strip 6]. is bolted to said rear vertical facewith the bolts passing through the said upturned vertical edge of belt57. The horizontal flanges of the respective angles do not extendforwardly as far as the vertical flanges in order that crossbar 60 maybe welded or otherwise fastened to the forward ends of the verticalflanges with sufiicient clearance between said crossbars 60 and theforward edge of the angles 58 to permit the upturning of the front edgeof the belt 57.

Forwardly extending drilled lugs 62 are welded to the top of crossbar 60adjacent the respective ends thereof. The drilled openings 63 in thelugs 62 are in alignment and fastened in slidable relation to rods 64passing through said openings respectively. The rods 64 extend laterallyand are mounted at their respective ends in the brackets 65. Brackets 65are welded to the upper surface of the top 41 of the former. The forwardedge of crossbar 60 slides on top of the rear edge 42 of the former top41. Similarly, the side of belt 57 adjacent the ends thereof rests onand passes: over the top of sides 20 and flanges 25 at that location.

Belt 57 and its associated parts forming the belter assembly arereciprocated across the top surface of the newly formed pavement 10. Forthis reciprocation, a lug 66 is welded to crossbar 66 intermediate theends thereof. A link 67 is pivotally connected at one side to lug 66 andat the other end to a connecting link 68. Link 68 is pivotally connectedat its remaining end to crank 69 keyed to a shaft of an electric motor70. Electric motor 70 receives its energy through insulated electricalconductors in the cable sheath 7].. An idler link 72 is also pivotallyconnected at its one end to the con nection between links 67 and 68. Atits other end link 72 is pivotally connected to an angle 73 fastened tothe platform 74. Platform 74 extends the width of the rigid structurebetween the runners 11 in a transverse direction. In a longitudinaldirection the platform 74 ex tends across and is fastened to the topflanges of the two larger channels 27 behind back plate 24 of the hopper 15. The motor 70 is bolted to the platform 74. In the embodimentshown the platform is made of planks but may be made of other material.A longitudinal gap 75 is provided in platform 74 adjacent one endthereof. When power is supplied to the motor 70 rotating the shaftthereof and crank 69, the belter 57 is transversely reciprocated acrossthe top of the newly laid pavement 10 giving it a surface finish whichis in addition to the finish impartedto it by the underside of top 41 ofthe former.

as is well understood in the automotive art.

wheels, 77 and 78 inwardly thereof.

97 are welded to the front 'corners of the hassis'i'fi. These cornerplates W7 are drilled for the passage of wheels 77 2s the rear oftheframe and on single steering wheels 78 at the front'thereof. Asshown, the driving wheels 77 are connected together by a deadaxle 79,the wheels beingprovided withdriven sprockets 80 keyed'thereto. Thesprockets 80ers respectively driven by the sprocket chains 81 which alsoengage the driving sprockets '32 at the respective ends of a transversedrive shaft 83. Suitable journal mountings for the axle79 and-driveshaft83 are provided on the frame 76. A further gear 84 is keyed to driveshaft 33 to'turn the said shaft whenever a drive chain 35 is turned. Thediameter of gear '84 is such that it extendsbelow the plane of the topof platform 74. Format reason, the gap 75 is provided which not onlyallows therigid structure to move along in pavement forming position asshown in Figure 1 relative to the vehicle but also provides sufficientclearance when the rigidstructure is lifted, lifting runners 11 off ofthe surface the to enable it to be transported.

Although in the mechanism just described no differential is shown, suchdifferential gearing may be provided In the embodiment shown, during thetransportation of the rigid structure, one of the sprocket chains 81 canbe removed, enabling the vehicle tonegotiate turns during the laying ofpavementby the device of thisinvent'ion. There is 'usually sufficientplay in the driving mechanism to the'drive wheels 77 to enable slightturns *to be made inthe course of laying down the new pavement.Sometimes, in order to improve traction, tire chains may be applied tothe driving wheels 77.

'The steering mechanism for the steering wheels 78 includes a steeringWheel $50 and steering column '36 connected in conventional manner by alink 87 to a cross rod 88 which is reciprocable in a guide channel 89.The outer ends of the guide channel 39 form-pivotal bearings for thesteering knuckles 9b which are pivotally connected thereto'bykingpins91. The knuckles 90 have a forwardly extendingintegral arm '92 which inturn is pivotally connectedtothe outer bent ends of cross rod 88.Axles93 are welded to the'outside of the knuckles 90 for conventionalrotatable connection relative to the steering wheels 78. While thewheels "Wand 78 are shown as conventional wheels, other types oftraction surfaces may be employed such as endless treads.

The guide channel 8? which is a structural member is mounted'in the mainframe 76 and rigidly connected thereto as shown in Figure 2.

A bracket 94 is welded to member 89 and has pivotally connected theretoa centering link 95. The other end of centering link 9 5 is pivotallyand removably connected to a lug 96 welded to channel 32 across thefront of the rigid structure. in

this way as the vehicle 76-777i proceeds,-moving the rigid structureoverthe surface that, the link 951mm:-

tains the runners ill in centered position relative to the Flat ernerplates rods-9S which also passthrough'registering openings in lugs-99welded to the top flanges 25 at thefront of the respective runners 11.Rods98 pass looselythrough the respective holes in the cor er plates 9'7and-1 1559 2 Nut-s- Hill are threaded engagement with-the respectiverods 93 at each end of each thereof. As a consequence,

- the rods 98 can bc used to limit theextent of vertical movement of therigid structure including the l runners 11 relative to -the main frame76 of the vehicle, as well as to provide 'some additi'onal stabilityduringpavement laying operations. Thusjin the event of any longtransport of therigid structure after it has been lifted away from thesurface a, the respective'nuts 10-0 can be dri-tg chain M2 is bolted toeach arm 101 at the lower end thereof. The other end of each chain 102is removably fastened to a plate 103 welded to the top of the respectiverunners '11 outside of the sides of hopper 15. it is evident that as thevehicle is driven along under its own power, the rigid structurecomprising the runners ll, the hopper the streamline guide 33 and theformer will bedrawn along over surface 10/1 with the weight of thestructure resting on the runners 11.

in some Casesthe rigid structure by itself may be pulled by a tractoreliminating the need for the aforesaid vehicle. In such cases, the rigidstructure would be transported on a flat bed truck to differentlocations and a generator set would'be mounted on platform 74 to supplyelectric current to the motor and the Vibrators 52.

The rear of the main frame 76 behind the back plate 2d of hopper fli issubstantially covered by a platform provided with ahandlc 112.

194. On the platform a portable internal combustion motor-generator set104a may be clamped to provide electric current'through the conductorswithin the cable sheath 54 to therespective vibrators 52 and through theinsulated electrical conductors in the cable sheath 71 the upper end oflever 109 and at its forward end is connected to a clutch lever in.Clutch lever 111 is The lower end of clutch lever lll is pivoted to abracket 113 fastened to chassis 76. if it be assumed that the clutchwithin housing 1tl7 is engaged when the handle 112 is in the positionshown in Figure 1,' the driving shaft'114 of the engine will/turn aninput shaft l15'fby means of a flexible coupling H6.

1 Input shaft 115 is apart of a conventional gear reducer84-'heretofore-described. With the clutch in engagement as -shown'i'nFigure l,'the driving wheels 77 will'rnovc aio'ng-surfaccltlzz 'and dragthe rigid structure on runners 111 over the same surface to lay apavement of the plastic construction. material deposited in front of theprcsser plate 38.

Afterall oftiie pavement to be laid in a single operationis laid,-the-aforesaid vehicle will draw the rigid strdcture briT-t'1n'riers 1out beyond the end of the new pavement. Then it may readilybe liftedwithout disturbing any of"the"new pavement. in lifting the rigidstructure so that the runners 11 are suspended above the road, hydraulicjacks are employed.

The entire paving operation with a device of this invention may beperformed by a single operator. An operators seat 121 is providedimmediately behind the steering whe e-1: a. 1 The; seat-121 is fastenedto hra'ckets 122" welded to frame 76 "on that side of the vehicle.Sitnilarly, a brack'et '123's'upports a foot rest 124 for antenna thedriving operator. The steering column 86 is fastened to the frame 76 bya column 125. From this position the operator can steer the afore :aidvehicle as well as control engine 105 with respect to its drivingengagement or disengagement and speed and can also attend to theengine-generator set 1634a. From such position also the open ator canmaintain the line which the road is to take by keeping a pointer 126following the cord 12] attached to the surveyors stakes. Pointer tan isfastened to a forwardly and outwardly projecting mount 3.28 which isbolted to the front of the flange runner 21 on the same side as theoperators seat 121.

In lifting the rigid structure resting on runners ll after passingbeyond the end of the newly laid pavement, hydraulic jacks 129 areprovided adjacent the front corners of the hopper 35. These jacks arerigidly fastened to bases 13% Welded to the sides of chassis 7 The jackplungers 131 can be extended and retracted beneath the jack pads 132.These jack pads are rigidly fastened to the front vertical corner postsof the hopper respectively. A manual hydraulic reservoir and pump 333 ispositioned on a corner plate 97 next to one of the jacks 129 and isconnected to jacks 129 by conventional hydraulic pipes (not shown). Thepump 1353 is provided with selector valves 134 which enable the jaclcs129 to be extended simultaneously or separately and to be held or lockedin any respective extended position desired. The reach of the jacks 129is sufhcient to lift the front of the runners it entirely off the grounda sufricient distance for transportation to a new job location. in thecase of any long trip with the runners and rigid structure connectedthereto so lifted, the nuts fill can be taken up to take the load offthe cylinders 32-h and maintain the rigid structure in its elevatedposition.

At the rear of platform 1M there is a further hydraulic cylinder 135which is centrally located. The plunger 136 of cylinder 135 is providedwith a sheave 137. Fixed sheaves 138 are rotatably fastened to chassis7-6 adjacent the base of cylinder 135 and on opposite sides thereof.Additional sheaves 139 rotatably fastened to chassis 7'6 are providedadjacent the sides of the chassis and above the lugs 14% welded to therespective flanges 25 between the belter '2 and the beam 29. A flexiblesteel cable 141 shackled to one lug 14d passes over the adjacent sheave139 under the adjacent sheave 138 over the sheave 137 under theremaining sheave 133 and over the remaining sheave 139. The othershackled end of cable 141 is fastened to the other lug Mil, in theposition shown in Figure 3 when the trailing end 17 of the runners llrest on the surface liia. Moreover, in such position, the cable 141 andassociated sheaves maintain the rear end of the rigid structure incentered relation relative to the rear end of the frame as.

When it is desired to elevate the rear end of the rigid structure, anhydraulic reservoir pump 142 is operated by means of the handle 143 andthrough selector valves 144, plunger 136 i extended lifting the rear ofthe rigid structure and the rear of the runners if. off the surfacelila. The valving of the pump 142 is such that the plunger 136 can belocked in any extended position desired. While the operation of thehydraulic jacks l2? and 355 is manual, as is well understood in thatart, the regulation and control of such jacks may be centralized andcaused to occur by power rather than manual leverage.

In the event that the distance between the sides of the device of thisinvention which is employed corresponds to the width of one-half of atwcrlane road, the second such lane may be laid as shown in Figure 8. Inthis figure the pavement lit which was first laid by the device isparalleled by a second strip l t)". in making the second strip, one sideof the vehicle dragging the rigid structure of this invention proceedsalong the nearer edge of the pavement it) after it has set. The otherdriving wheels '77 ride along on the surface ftla on which the pavementis being placed. However, before I0 placing the second strip, the runner11 on the side of the machine which would be next the previously laidslab may be removed and a runner 11a of the form shown in Figure 9 maybe secured in it place. Runner 11a has the same longitudinal dimensionas the runner 11 which it replaces including a curved front edge.However, instead of being in channel form runner Illa is in a modified Sor 2 form with a narrow upper flange 25a and a narrow bottom edge 16a.The narrow bottom edge 16a replaces the wider flange 16 on the runner311 for which it is substituted. The bottom edge of runnor 11a furtheris reentrantly turned inwardly and upwardly so as to lie against andfurnish lateral support outwardly of the. bottom edge of the adjacentside 20. Machine bolts Ztlcz engage registering threaded openings in theblocks lib and 201; respectively secured to runner Ilia and side 20 at arequisite number of places along the length of each thereof to provideadequate fastening. The runner Ila slides over the perfectly levelledtrackway formed by the subgrade llla and the extrusions fd'b into anylow spots thereon adjoining and at the exact depth of the bottom of slabill thereby gauging the form so that the new adjoining slab will beprecisely level with the first as well as very close thereto. As thebearing lodge is smooth and hard, and the runner Illa has a narrowbottom area with relatively concentrated pressure, no extrusion ofpaving material under the runner 11a occurs. After the con'ipletion ofthe pavement 10 forming the second lane the recess between the twogenerally equal to the width of the runner used on that side may befilled with bituminous material to indicate the center line of the road.Or, if it is desired, it may be filled with additional concrete withoutundue difficulty or expense.

M oa'i fication in the rigid structure heretofore described includingthe former ll with the portions of the side 20 extending downwardly fromthe lateral edges thereof, the underside of top 4-1 was substantiallyplanar in character. However, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, a rigidstructure including a former may be constructed in accordance with thisinvention so as to span and lay a pavement having more than a singlelane therein. Further, the underside of the former top of such astructure may be made so as to provide a crown to such a plural lanepavement as shown in the modification of Figures 10 and 11. In thismodification, the portions thereof corresponding to the portions of theabove-described rigid structure in general construction and purpose aregiven the same reference numerals with the addition of aprime.

in the plural-lane form in the portion of the modified rigid structureshown in Figures 10 and 11, the underside of the top all. istransversely arched or curved to the extent desired to provide a crownat the center of the distance between the outer edges of the lanes inthe pavement 1 45. If it be assumed that pavement 145 has two trafliclanes therein, it may also be advantageous to provide a grooving blade146. Such a grooving blade depends from and is rigidly fastened to thecenter of the underside of the top 41' adjacent the rear edge 42' thereof. Such a blade me extends longitudinally parallel to the runners ifand in the course of the forming of pavement 145 will groove the centerto the depth of the blade. This grooving will provide a suitableexpansion space and may be filled with a contrasting colored masticmaterial to indicate the center line. More than one grooving blade maybe applied to the underside of top ill in appropriate transverse spacedrelation in those cases where there are more than two lanes betweenwhich grooves are to be made.

In addition, the blade 146 may extend rearwardly of the rear edge 42 andpass beneath the flexible belter 557. Since the top edge of the blade146 corresponds to the top surface of the pavement 145 at the crest ofthe transverse arch or crown therein, the belter 57 will receive supportcentrally of the ends thereof. In this way, any tendency of the belterto flatten the crown formed by the top 41' will be prevented.

Various changes and modifications may be made in the devices of thisinvention without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a road construction machine structure to lay a pavement of plasticconstruction material, in combination, parallel runners to slidablysupport said structure, said runners being spaced apart approximatelythe width of said pavement, a material receiving open-top enclosureconnected to. said runners intermediate the ends thereof, said enclosurebeing open along the rear lower edge and at least a portion of thebottom thereof, a guide sloping downwardly and rearwardly from a position adjacent the back of said enclosure, and a form connected to therear of said guide, said form extending substantially the width of saidpavement and having downwardly extending sides substantially the heightof said pavement, said sides generally sloping inwardly from bottom totop, at least along the rearward portions of said sides, said sidesfurther extending rearwardly of the sides of said enclosure in generallycontinuous fashion whereby moving said structure along on said runnerswill lay a pavement of plastic construction material supplied from saidenclosure.

2. In a road construction machine structure to lay a pavement of plasticconstruction material, in combination, rigid parallel runners toslidably support said structure, said runners being spaced apart atleast the width of said pavement, a hopper mounted across said runnersintermediate the ends thereof, said hopper being open on the bottom andalong the rear lower edge thereof, an

arcuate guide forming a continuous downward and rearward slope from theback of said hopper, said guide being substantially vertical along itsforemost edge and substantially horizontal along its rearmost edge, avibrating assembly positioned in said hopper adjacent the bottom thereofand extending at least a portion of the way beneath said guide, and aform connected in a continuous manner to the rear of said guide, saidform extending the width of said pavement and having downward lyextending sides extending the height of said pavement, the bottom ofsaid sides being adjacent the bottom of said runners, whereby movingsaid structure along on said runners will lay a pavement of plasticconstruction material supplied from said hopper and conforming to theinterior dimensions of said form.

3. In a road construction machine structure to lay a pavement of plasticconstruction material, in combination, spaced runners spanning the widthof said pavement, said runners further extending along the bottom of thesides of said structure to slidably support the same, a hopper mountedacross said runners adjacent the front ends thereof, said hopper beingopen on the bottom and across the rear lower edge thereof, an arcuatethroat plate curving downwardly and rearwardly to define said rear loweredge of said hopper, a form connected to the rear of said throat plate,said hopper, throat plate and form having sides laterally confiningplastic construction material deposited in said hopper, said throatplate and form further being open on the bottom, a beam extending acrosssaid hopper intermediate the front and back thereof, longitudinallyextending cantilever springs suspended from said beam above the surfaceon which said pavement is to be laid, a plurality of transverse shaftsmounted on respective ones of said springs, a plurality oflongitudinally and rearwardly extending vibrating bars mounted on saidshafts in normally suspended relation between said surface and the planeof the top of said form, and means for respectively vibrating saidsprings, shafts and bars to agitate said plastic construction material,whereby moving said structure along on said runners will lay a pavementof said plastic construction material supplied from said hopperconforming to the interior dimensions of said form.

4. In a road construction machine structure to lay a pavement of plasticconstruction material, in combination, rigid parallel runners spacedapart so as to span the width of said pavement, a hopper supportedacross said runners intermediate the ends thereof, said hopper beingopen on the bottom and along the rear lower edge thereof, a continuousthroat plate curving downwardly and rearwardly from the back of saidhopper, a form connected in a continuous manner to the underside of therear of said throat plate, said form extending substantially the widthof said pavement and having downwardly extending sides extendingsubstantially the height of said pavement, a belter extendingtransversely sub stantially in the plane of the top of said form, saidbelter being connected to said structure in advance of the trailing endsof said runners, the outer ends of said belter engaging said runnerssubstantially in said plane of the top of said form, and means fortransversely reciprocating said belter, said last-mentioned means beingsubstantially longitudinally fixed relative to said form, whereby movingsaid structure along on said runners will lay a pavement of plasticconstruction material from said hopper conforming to the interiordimensions of said form.

5. In a road construction machine structure to lay a pavement of plasticconstruction materials, in combination, elongated slidable runners onthe bottom of the sides of said structure to support the same forwardlyand rearwardly of the center of gravity thereof, said runners beingspaced apart so as to span the width of said pavement, a hopper mountedacross said runners adjacent the front ends thereof, said hopper havinga front plate, the top edge of which is low enough to receive plasticconstruction material from a materials mixer, and the bottom edge ofwhich is high enough to clear the surface on which said pavement is tobe laid, said hopper further being open along the lower rear edgethereof, an arcuate guide extending downwardly and rearwardly in anuninterrupted manner from the back of said hopper, a form connected inan uninterrupted man nor to the rear of said guide, said hopper, guideand form being closed on said sides respectively adjacent said runnersand open on the bottom in continuous manner respectively, said formhaving a transversely curved top to mold a crown on said pavement, and ablade projecting downwardly perpendicular to said top beneath the same,whereby moving said structure along on said runners will lay a crownpavement of plastic construction material from said hopper conforming tothe interior dimensions of said form and with a groove the width of saidblade down the center of said pavement.

6. In a road construction machine structure to lay a pavement of plasticconstruction material, in combination, runners supporting said structurein operative position and spaced apart so as to span the width of saidpavement, a hopper supported across said runners intermediate the endsthereof, said hopper being open on the bottom and along the rear loweredge thereof, a continuous throat plate curving downwardly andrearwardly from the back of said hopper, a form connected to theunderside of the rear of said throat plate, said form extendingsubstantially the width of said pavement and having downwardly extendingsides extending substan tially the height of said pavement, a belterextending transversely, substantially in the plane of the top of saidform and rearwardly thereof, and a blade fastened to the underside ofthe top of said form in perpendicular relation thereto and intermediatethe sides thereof, said blade extending rearwardly on a level with theunderside of said top and extending beneath said belter to engage thesame, whereby moving said structure along on said runners will lay apavement of plastic construction material from said hopper conforming tothe interior dimensions of said former and said belter will receiveintermed-late support from said blade.

7. In a road construction machine to lay a pavement of plasticconstruction material, in combination, elongated slidable runners spacedapart so as to span the width of said pavement, a hopper supportedacross said runners adjacent the front ends thereof, a curved throatplate extending downwardly and rearwardly from the back of said hopper,a form connected to the rear of said throat plate and extendingrearwardly therefrom, said hopper, throat plate and form being open onthe respect-ive bottoms thereof to the surface on which said pavement isto be laid, said hopper, throat plate and form further having sidesextending downwardly substantially to said surface, said sidesrespectively extending rearwardly in continuous fashion, said runners,hopper, throat plate and form further comprising a rigid structure, saidrunners supporting said structure when in operative position, anopen-center vehicle connected to said structure substantially to supplytraction only to said structure to move it along on said runners to laya pavement conforming to the interior dimensions of said form of plasticconstruction material deposited in said hopper, and lifting meansextending between said vehicle and said structure to lift said structureupwardly within said open center of said vehicle when said structure isnot operative.

8. In a road construction machine structure to lay a pavement of plasticconstruction material, in combination, parallel runners spaced apartapproximately the width of said pavement and adapted to slide over thesubgrade to be paved, said runners supporting said structure when inoperative position, a hopper supportably connected to said runnersadjacent the front ends thereof, said hopper being open along the rearlower edge and at least a portion of the bottom thereof, a guide slopingdownwardly and rearwardly in a smooth manner from the back of saidhopper, a form connected to the underside of the rear of said guide,said form attend ing substantially the width of said pavement and havingdownwardly extending sides extending substantially the height of saidpavement, one of said runners being provided with a generally horizontalbottom flange extending substantially the full length of said runner,said flange being flush with the bottom edge of one of said downwardlyextending sides of said form and adapted to mold a trackway of plasticconstruction material by extruding it laterally under said runner fromsaid hopper to fill any depression in said subgrade and provide arelatively smooth and uniform bearing surface over which said runner mayslide in laying said pavement, and the other of said runners having anarrow lower edge adapted to slide close to the edge of a previouslylaid pavement over the aforesaid trackway, whereby at least two stripsof pavement may be formed in side-by-side relation with the adjacent topsurfaces thereof in precise flush relationship.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,584,385 Lichtenberg May 11, 1926 1,586,325 Older May 25, 19261,715,739 Carr June 4, 1929 1,718,863 MacKenzie June 25, 1929 1,877,577Palmer Sept. 13, 1932 1,979,619 Hemstreet Nov. 6, 1934 2,039,026 PeaseApr. 28, 1936 2,049,115 Hadley July 28, 1936 2,072,479 Hadley Mar. 2,1937 2,188,553 Lathrop Jan. 30, 1940 2,209,710 Wood July 30, 19402,225,015 Lebelle Dec. 17, 1940 2,244,297 Heltzel June 3, 1941 2,251,095Wood July 29, 1941 2,332,688 Baily Oct. 26, 1943 2,393,954 Baker Feb. 5,1946 2,441,532 Millikin et a1. May 11, 1948 2,491,275 Millikin Dec. 13,1949

